Global Fund Conference a Key Moment for Canada

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 17, 2016 /CNW/ - Over the past two days, at the Global Fund Replenishment Conference in Montreal, world leaders and civil society came together to raise nearly USD$13 billion in order to fight TB, HIV-AIDs and Malaria. This funding will save lives and empower thousands of the world's most vulnerable women and children, according to World Vision, Canada's largest international development agency.

World Vision welcomes Prime Minister Trudeau's strong leadership as the host of the Global Fund replenishment conference. We are encouraged by the Government of Canada's $804 million commitment to fight TB, AIDS and malaria with a focus on the poorest and most vulnerable, especially realizing the rights and health of women and girls in the world's toughest places.

To end these deadly diseases for good, Canada must lead the way by boldly reaching further than ever before to help those that are furthest behind. More than half the world's child deaths and 60% of maternal deaths occur in fragile places like South Sudan and Afghanistan, yet Canada currently commits 25% of its official development budget to these places.

In the report, Hope in Fragility, released by World Vision in conjunction with the Global Fund Replenishment Conference, the international aid organization urges the Canadian government to shift the proportion of its development assistance dedicated to fragile places from 25% to 35%. The report also advocates for Canada to increase its overall development assistance budget, aiming to double its international assistance in the next ten years in order to significantly impact the world's most vulnerable people.

QUOTES

Michael Messenger, President of World Vision Canada

"We applaud Canada and Prime Minister Trudeau for their strong leadership. Canadians can be proud of their government's efforts to improve the lives of the most vulnerable. To end these terrible diseases for good, Canada must continue to lead the way boldly, reaching further than ever before to help those who are furthest behind.  We know that the burdens of tuberculosis, malaria and HIV-AIDS fall most heavily on women and girls in the world's most fragile places.  And although it's tougher to make a difference there, the potential for progress is enormous."

"We must seize the momentum of this week's conference to set an example for the world.  Canada can do more in the world's toughest places – and we must.  In Somalia, for example, we are working with Global Fund to tackle TB, over the past decade we've strengthened health infrastructure, enabled the diagnosis and treatment of 127,000-plus people for tuberculosis with an 88% success rate."

QUICK FACTS:

• Fragile and conflict-affected contexts are home to 60% of preventable maternal deaths, 53% of child deaths and 33% of the global AIDS, TB and malaria burden.
• Women and children make up 75% of the 125 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
• Through partnership with the Global Fund, World Vision enables 2.5+ million people to access healthcare every year.
• World Vision invests $415 million annually for health programming in 65 developing countries, including through our work with the Global Fund

RESOURCES
Download World Vision's Hope in Fragility report here.
Images of World Vision's work with the Global Fund can be found here.

World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization working to create lasting change in the lives of children, families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by our Christian values, World Vision is dedicated to working with the world's most vulnerable people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. Visit our News Centre at worldvision.ca

SOURCE World Vision Canada

For interviews contact: Brett Tarver - 647-825-2712 or [email protected]